Ralph Nader & Abby Martin on US Rigged Corporate Elections
Most people know Ralph Nader as the insurgent third-party Presidential
candidate in the 2000 elections, where the popularity of his stand
against corporate hegemony struck fear into establishment politics.
But hundreds of millions experience Nader’s legacy everyday. Most
notably, how virtually every automobile safety measure, from seatbelts
to airbags, are the product of his relentless campaign against auto
industry giants. His contributions as a consumer advocate span disability rights to exposing corporate pollution.
A long-time political figure with unique experience fighting from the
center of Washington, Nader joins Abby Martin on The Empire Files to
discuss today’s political climate, the corporate government and rigged
elections.
Nader describes the invasion of Washington by Wall
Street as the way in which the government has been indentured by
corporatism; the Democrats are dialed into the same corporate interests
as Republicans and both work to crush third party representatives from
getting on the ballot.
Nader argues that Bernie Sanders gave up
his bargaining power when he pledged to endorse Hillary Clinton as the
Democratic nominee. “He probably knows that the democratic party
machinery is controlled by the Clintons.” Nader says Sanders needs to
use his grassroots support to make demands of the Democratic Party, and
his followers need to start organizing beyond the campaign.
Hillary Clinton is a “corporate criminal”, who has never met a war or
weapons system she doesn’t like. Her hawkish foreign policy casts light
on her tendency to chase after war, and her support of Wall Street.
“She’s a militarist and a corporatist,” says Nader. Her blind ambition
of seeking power will likely push the United States into more wars.
The Clinton Foundation, which is funded by Gulf monarchies and mining
magnets, saw an increase in donorship once Hillary Clinton became
Secretary of State, showing just how close the Clinton’s ties are to the
most oppressive regimes and corporations. While Hillary’s campaign has
been supported most passionately by those calling for more women-led
leadership, this brand of ‘Clinton feminism’ has latched onto something
that is nothing more than an upwards career move, not a substantive
movement towards equal representation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0e4Ii_qyNng
